Govt risks Northland Maori wrath with new oil and gas exploration offer

Thu, 08 Nov 2012

By Pattrick Smellie Nov. 8 (BusinessDesk) - The government is offering up a huge swathe of offshore Northland acreage for oil and gas exploration in a move that is sure to test a new iwi consultation protocol intended to minimise Maori protests against oil exploration, such as occurred off East Cape early last year. Energy Minister Phil Heatley unveiled the proposed areas to be included in the 2013 "block offer" tender process, seeking expressions of interest from oil and gas explorers for acreage in five offshore areas: the Taranaki, Northla...

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